Regulating device for internal combustion engines



Dec. 13,` 1938. M. l.. MENNEssoN 2,139,841

REGULATING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL CoNBUsTIoN ENGINES Filed Sept. 24, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 7 nvenor'f Marce( [men/16550K .nef/5f' M. L. MENNESSON REGULATING DEvICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1934 Dec.l3, 1938. M. MENNEssoN 2,139,841

REGUEATING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBSTION ENGINES Filed sept. 24, 1934 s sheets-sheet s Patented Dec. 13, 1938 A PATENT OFFICE REGULATING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES lMarcel Louis Mennesson, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, assigner to Socit Anonyme Solex, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, a corporation. of

France Applicationseptemher 24, 1934, Serial No. '145,350

Y In France April 3, 1934 11 Claims.

ternal combustion engine and thereby governing the speed of the engine.

To limit the speed of internal vcombustion engines, it is known to provide, in the induction pipe thereof, an admission regulator for the gases which regulator is controlled by the suction. Such a regulator may be constituted by a butterfly valve automatically moved toward its closed position by a spring and of which the axis of rotation is offset from the centre line of the induction pipe in such a way that the said buttery valve is asymmetric about its axis of rotation. Such a butterfly valve tends to be moved under the effect of the difference existing between the pressures on the two sides of the valve and which are determined or produced by its presence. 'I'he 4position of equilibrium of the valve depends on the equilibrium between the pressure of the gases and the'tension of its return spring. The buttery valve thus tends to close when the pressure of the gas mixture acting in the direction of closing of the valve becomes greater than the pull of the spring,.that is to say when the engine tends to turn too quickly. The speed of the engine can v thus be governed by the admission of the atomized mixture at the point at which the pressure on the valve is balanced by the pull of its spring.

The present invention has for its object to improve speed regulators of this kind.

In accordance with the present invention, an admission regulator employing an asymmetric butterfly valve is arranged in such a way that it may be utilized at the same time as the ordinary acceleration control valve. This arrangement is advantageous on account of the small space occupied, low cost of manufacture and simplicity..

For this purpose, the regulating butterfly valve is arranged in such away that it can turn freely on the shaft operated lby the usual accelerator control but at the same time can be actuated by the rotary movement "of the said shaft to be utilized as a valve for the atomized mixture by f Within the limits of the accelerator control, however, the position of the butterfly valve is determined by the equilibrium between the pressure of the gases and the pull of its regulating spring, and when the engine tends to turn too quickly, the valve, in closing, thereby acts as an admission regulator and as a governor for the engine.

In a regulator of this kind the spring should be disposed in such a way that it has a tendency to open the valve towards the intake end of the induction pipe while at the same time the asymmetric arrangement of the valve should tend to close it under the pressure of the incoming atomized mixture. It follows from this arrangement that the tension of the spring is at a maxlmum for the closing position of the valve, so that the pull-thereof yis actually greater for the positions of the valve near closing, for which the difference between the pressures of the incoming mixture beyond and in front of the Valve is greater and the pressure on the valve is greater than for' the positions adjacent full opening for which this pressure also becomes much less. With the displacement of the butterfly valve the two opposing forces, acting on the regulating device, vary in the same direction. It would thus be desirable so to arrange the parts that equilibrium between the forces may be realized and the regulating action possible for any intermediate position of opening of the valve. The action of the regulator would then depend not on the quantities of atomized mixture admitted but solely on the variations of pressure on the valve determined by the speed variationof the engine when its load A varies. The regulating device would thus actbetween the limits of oscillation permitted by the abutments for each position of the accelerator control-independently of the quantity of mixture admitted .by the opening of the valve determined by the usual accelerator control and solely as a function of the variation of the pressure of admission of this mixture which results from the excess speed which the engine may hav-e according to its loading, with the accelerator control in agiven position. I

According to a further feature of the invention, for obtaining a suitable proportion between the forces acting on the regulating arrangement, so that the action of this arrangement `may be utilized whatever the position of opening of the valve, the point of attachement of the spring relatively to the valve is chosen in such a way that, not only as indicated above, is the pull'of this spring a minimum for the full opening of the Valve, but also that the lever arm of the said 1, 2 and 3) a buttery valve 2 which can oscillate spring is also a minimum for this full opening and a maximum for closing. For this purpose, the said lever arm can be varied by means of a suitable cam inserted in 5 the connection between the spring and the buttery valve or a suitablearticulation provided in the said connection or gain, and more simply practically into the extension of the line of pull:

With the movement of the valve towards the opening, the displacement and consequently the traction effort of the spring, varies as the sine of the arc described by the valve and becomes more and more small relatively to that of the valve.

It follows that there is obtained on the one hand the diminution ofthe levei` arm to which this traction effort isapplied and,'on the other hand,

a smaller variation of the traction eifort.

By suitably proportioning the parts, the constructional conditions ofthe invention are arranged to fulfill perfectly the conditions of use specified above and permit a utilization of the arrangement in which, as is desired, the action `of the regulator depends not on the position-of.

the valve as determined by the accelerator conn trol and the quantity of mixture which can be admitted in the said position, but only on the variation of the admission pressure of the mixture which.results, at the said'controlled position of opening,'from a. variation of the load oi.'

the engine producing an acceleration.- 40 Other features of the invention consist in add- -ing to thel spring of regulators' of the kind in question, means adapted to regulate its lengthand its tension, the said means being advantageously completed by an arrangement for preventing variation of adjustment; in ensuring the freedom of the movements of the regulator relatively to the control, by means of bearings, for example roller bearings, at the various points of friction; and in effecting, by the passage of the fuel to the said points of friction, the lubrication oi the friction surfaces in the assembly of the regulator and of the control.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be'made to the accompanying drawings, in which: l Figs. 1 and' 2 show, in diagrammatic section, the induction pipe of a carburettor, constructed according to the invention, certain parts occupying diierent characteristic positions on the two figures.

' Figs. 3 and 4 show the same arrangement respectively in section on III-DI. Fig. 1, and in section on IV-IV, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows in partial vertical section, a varia- V tion of the arrangement according to Fig. 1.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show the same arrangement respectively in section Von VI-VI, Fig. 5, in section on VII-VH, 6, and in section on VIII- vm.F1s.1. Y 7o Figs. 9 and 10 nnally show another variation of Athe .arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 2, 'in

vertical partial section, certain of the parts occupyinaalso different characteristic positions. As shown on the-drawln'si in the admission li6," p ipe I of a carburettm there is provided (Figs.

around the shaft 3, and said shaft does not pass through the centre of the -said admission pipe I but is oiset relatively thereto in such a way that the said valve 2 can open towards the intake end 5 of the said admission pipe I.

The shaft 3 is solid with a ring 4 (Fig. 3) which r acts as a pivot in the body I and which embodies the abutments 5 and 6 limiting the, freedom of oscillation of the valve 2 on the shaft 3 (Fig. 4). 10

The ring -4 is solid with the control lever 1 actuated by the usual accelerator pedal or handle.

' The valve 2 carries an arm 8 to'which is attached a spring 9 arranged in such a way that the angle made by its line of pull with the arm 8 16 rings, upon the fixing of the said cover on the body I by the screws or bolts I6 and I1. A suitable lead sealing device. can make the assembly not liable to tampering so as to prevent the adjustment of the regulating device from being 30 liable to alteration by the driver of the vehicle.

In the position of stopping (Fig. 1), the control shaft 3, solid with the accelerator pedal or handle, moves the valve 2 into the closing position bythe abutment 5 under the, action of the usual 35 'return spring of the accelerator control, while the regulator spring 9, acting in opposition with thesaid return spring, tends to maintain the valve '2 against the abutment 5. In operation and until a certain speed of the engine is attained, the valve 40 remains applied against the abutment 5 under the eifect of the pull of the said spring 9 and is held open towards the intake end of the admission pipe i by following the rotary movement of the shafts 3 and 4 solid with one another against the 45 pressure of the gases which tend to close it.

The abutments 5 and 6 of the shaft 3 are arranged in such a wayf that when fully open (Fig. 2) the valve then occupies an inclined position to the air. streams and this always in such a 50 direction that the pressure of the incoming mixture ends to produce its closing. Asthe speed of the incoming mixture increases with that of the engine, if the regulation of the tension ofl the spring 9 is suitable. the equilibrium between the 55 opposing forces acting on the butterfly valve is exceeded for a given speed of the engine.. which produces an oscillatory movement ofthe valve towards the closed position up to the position where a new equilibrium of the forces is obtained. 60

When such an arrangement is utilized on an automobile vehicle and as-a regulation operation which is either complete or' nonfexistant is not acceptable for such an application, the object to be attained is to y'proportion the opening of the 65 valve strictly to the load on the engine in .the course of variations of this load-'which are independent of the driving and produced by the vloading of the vehicle, the nature of the journey or like factorsin such Aa way as to preserve a con- 70 tinuous operation Without stoppages, at a substantially-constant speed. This condition is fully realized by the utilization of the invention 'described For the same speedof theengine, if the position of the valve varies according to the load on this engine, the forces to which this valve is subjected are themselves variable according to the speed and the pressure oi the incoming mixture, which depends on the said speed and the said load of the engine. The valve is in eiect subjected to two pressurefactors, the kinetic energy or flow of air and the difference between the pressures in front of and beyond the valve. The first factor is dominant towards full opening and the second towards closing. The pressure on the valve does not vary exactly in the same proportion as the pull of the spring according to the position of the valve and it is necessary to modify the length of the lever arm by means of which this spring acts on the valve in such a way as to shorten'this lever arm proportionally to the degree of opening of the valve.

`:By suitably choosing they eccentricity of the butterfly 'valve 2 and the curve described by the point of attachment of thespring 9 to the said valve, the regulating device may be balanced .for all positions of the valve by means of` a single spring 9 in such a way that this arrangement acts solely as a function of the variations of load of the engine for every opening of the valve limited by the control means, that is to say for each limiting speed of the engine corresponding to each limit opening.

As regards the regulation, itshould be noted `that the two elements (eccentricity of the but` tery valve and curve of the point'oi'A attachment of the spring) being determined by the construction, the regulation `consists in giving to this spring the desired tension in order that the butterily valve closes at the maximum chosen speed and in adopting a tension curve as a function of its extension which ensures opposing forces for Aall positions of the said valve.

The first adjustment, that is to say the adjustment of the tension of the spring 9, is obtained by turning the ring II in such a way as to screw it on or unscrew it from the ilxed ring I2 and thereby to vary the distance between the points of attachment of the spring 9 between the arm 8 and the ring II).Y

The second adjustment is obtained by turning the ring I8 in such a way as to vary the number of active'spirals of the spring 9 and consequently the pull exerted thereby in the course of movement towards the closing of the valve.

If, by reason of the regulation, the speed at reduced load is lower than the speed at full load, that is to say if the action of the regulator is too rapid, the number of active spirals is reduced and inversely, if at reduced load, the speed increases too much, that is to say if the regulator is too sluggish, the number of active spirals is increased.

Preferably, the threading of thering Il has the same pitch as the threading of the ring III, in which the spring 9 is screwed, in such a way vas to facilitate the regulation. It is sulcient to regulate the tension of the spring by acting on the ring I I, then if the number of spirals is to ber modified, to turn together in the desired direction'the parts I0 and II, for example by turning the whole by means of the flats ofthe member I3 (Fig. 8). One can thus vary the number of spirals utilized without acting on the initial ten- -sion of the spring 9, provided for the position of opening of the valve.

The regulation being completed, the parts I and Il are secured in an absolute manner and protected against any accidental variation by means of the cover I3. To this end the parts II) and II may be grooved.' on their outerperiphery, while one or more tongues solid with the cover I3 are engaged in these grooves. Or, more simply-and as stated above-the parts l0 and Il may be shaped in metal to have a hexagonal profile and engaged by two ilat parts I4 and I5 of the member I3 (Fig. 8)

`On Figs. 5. 6 and 7, as a variation of the method of construction of Fig. 1, the spring 9, insteadof being directly attached to the lever arm 8 of the valve 2, is associated with a cable I8 passing over a cam I9 solid with the spindle 3 and of suitable profile to vary the distance between the shaft of the valve and the point of application of the cable on the said cam, that is to say to vary the lever arm acting on the valve, as described above with reference to Fig. 1. For this method of construction (Fig. 6) the valve 2 is solid with the shaft '3 and the latter carries, at one of its extremities, the cam I9 Ain such a way that the assembly constituted by the cam I9, the cable I8, the spring 9 and its regulating members Illl and II, are arranged outside the body of the pipe I. At the other extremity of this shaft`3 there are then provided the abutments and 6` and the assembly of the control members o i the accelerator I-1 (Fig. '7). Y

0n Figs. 9 and 10, as a variation of the method of construction of Fig. 1, the curve described by Athe point of attachment of the spring 9 to the formed by the line of pull of this spring with the lever arm of the valve is more acute in the position of closing of this valve than in the positionof opening, but also by arranging the point of attachment of the spring to the .lever arm of the valve on an articulated element by means of which this lever arm itself varies and becomes the maximum forthe position of closing. To this end, this arm is formed by an arm 8 solid with the valve 2 and a movable arm 30 articulated to the extremity of the arm 8 and to which is xed the point of attachment of the spring 9. This movable arm 39 carries a screw abutment 3| which, in course of movement towards the closing of the valve, comes into contact with a second fixed arm 32 on the valve. For this method of realization, the-movable arm 30, pivoting on the extremity of the xed arm 8, is free to be displaced in the continuation of the line of action of the spring 9 (Fig. 10) until the screw abutment 3| contacts with the arm 32 whereupon .the said arm 30 becomes solid in movement with the arm 8 and instead of remaining in the continuation of the line of action of the spring 9, it becomes equivalent to a rigid extension of the lever arm 8 (Fig. 9). As the lever arm varies in such a way as to be a minimum for the full opening of the valve vand a maximum for its closing, it will be seen that according to the arrangement shown on Figs. 9 and l0,-this lever arm is only in reality that of the arm 8 in the position of opening (Fig. 10), while there is added thereto the length of the arm 3IJ` during the movement towards closing (Fig. 9). By means of the screw 3|, one can regulate the moment when the arms 8 and 30 commence .to move together as one as well as the angle for which they remain solid in movement and consequently the eiective length of the lever arm of the point of Vattachment of the spring 9 to the valve.

1n practice. the arrangement comprising two degrees of regulation, shown on Figs. 9 and l0,

permits first of all a regulation to be eifected suitable for the periods nearfull opening b y meansof a small lever ar'm and a small diswhich is obtained by lregulating the moment when the screw-abutment' 3| comes into contact -l ,tegral with the throttle valve, and a spring con- With the arm 32.

It is absolutely necessary, for a suitable operation ofthe regulator, to prevent all adherence and all binding of the valveon its shaft or of this shaft inthe body of the pipe, inv such a way as to preserve the regulation which has been made by taking account of the substantial friction between these parts. The pressures of the air on the valve, particularly near the position of closing, are such that the value of the friction of this valve on its shaft plays a considerable part in thevsetting of the regulator.

'I'he present invention contemplates the use of bearingsfor example roller bearings-such as 2l, 2|, 22 (Figs. 5 and 6) interposed, on assembly, at .all friction points both of the valve on its 'shlaft as also of this shaft in the body of the pipe Further, conjointly or not with the foregoing arrangement and according to the invention, use is made, for effecting the lubrication or bathing with liquid of the said friction points, of the following arrangement: y

'Ihe fuel, in being sprayed from the jet, Ais a1- ways more or less projected onto the valve and the walls of the body I. Consequently, if suitable spaces or gaps are left between the valve and its shaft, as well as between the said shaft and the body I- in which it turns, particles of fuel adheringto the walls of the body I pass, under the effect of the suction acting in front of and beyond the valve, through these spaces or gaps, the said particles being deposited, for example, on the. rollers 20, 2I, 22, which may be provided at the said points. By evaporation, these particles-of fuel deposit, at these points, their heavy constituents which form-actually an oily uid body adapted to effect a constantly renewed lubrication.

On Fig. 3, the suction through the spaces or gaps is increased by the provision of orices such as 23 and 24 provided in the face ofthe bearing 20. On Fig. 6, the fuel projected on the walls of the body I and collecting in the groove '25, is sucked forwards and backwards by the passages 26-21 and 28-29 so as to circulate `around the bearings of the shafts and the bearings 2| and 22.

The invention is not limited to. the precise forms or details of construction described, as these may be varied to suit particular cases.

What Ifclaim is:

1. A carburetor for internal combustion engines, comprising, an oifset pivoted throttle valve accomplishing all the usual functions of an ordinary carburetor throttle. a movable member having, a shoulder thereon, a lost-motion connection between the shoulder and the valve, means controlled by the operator to control positively the position of said shoulder, an arm innected at one end to the arm and at the other end to anelement adiustably mounted with respect to the body of the carburetor so as to maintain the 'valve in active engagement with,

the shoulder against the action of suction in the inlet conduit of the carburetor as long as the speed of the motor does not exceed the greatest permissible speed, said' arm and spring being arranged with respect to each other so that the leverage withv which the said spring acts on the throttle valve varies in inverse proportions with Y,

the degree of opening of the valve.

2. A carburetor for internal combustion engines comprising,l an offset pivoted throttle valve accomplishing all the usual functions of an ordinary carburetor throttle. a member having a .shoulder Ithereon, a lost-motion connection between the shoulder and the valve, means conto the free end of the said pivoted member and at its other endto an element 'secured to the body of the carburetor, whereby the stop is moved against the shoulder in the course of movement of the valve from its opening position to its closing position. said spring thus main- I. taining the valve in active engagement with the first movable shoulder against the action of sucticn in the inlet conduit of the carburetor as long as the speed of the motor does not exceed the maximum permissible speed, the pivoted member and the spring being arranged with respect to each other so that the leverage with which said spring acts on the valve varies in' inverse ratio .to the degree of opening of the valve.

3. A carburetor' for internal combustion engines comprising, an offset pivoted throttle valve accomplising all the usual functions of the ordinary carburetor throttle, a member having a shoulder thereon, a lost-motion connection be, tween said shoulder and the valve, means controlled by the operator to control positively the position of the shoulder, spring means to main-- conduit of the carburetor as long as the motor does not exceed the maximum permissible speed, means for regulating the tension of' said spring means, and cover means for said spring regulating means adapted to be rigidly secured to the .body

of the carburetor, said cover means including means operable when said cover means is placed in covering position for locking the spring regulating means in its regulated position.

4. A carburetor for internal combustion engines comprising, an offset throttle valve pivoted in the body of the carburetor and accomplishing all the usual functions of the ordinary carburetor throttle valve, an element mounted in the body of the carburetorfcoaxially with respect to the axis of rotation of said throttle valve, a lever rigid with Yvalve and the coaxlally mounted element.

amasar plishing all the usual functions of the ordinary carburetor throttle, said valve being so arranged that the suction acting on the offset portion thereof tends to move the valve to closed position, a, member having shoulders thereon, a lost motion connection between said shoulders and said valve, means controlled by the operator to control positively the position of said shoulders, a spring arrangement for holding the valve in active engagement with one of saidl shoulders against the action of suction thereupon, said shoulders being so positioned that when said means moves to one extreme position one of the shoulders substantially completely'closes said valve, while when said means moves to the other extreme position the other shoulder slightly opens said valve.

6. A carburetor for internal combustion engines comprising a mixing chamber, means to supply fuel to said mixing chamber, a rotatable member, an offset throttle valve pivoted on said member located on the downstream side of said supply means and accomplishing all the usual functions of the ordinary carburetor throttle valve, said valve being so arranged that the suction acting on the offset portion thereof tends to move the valve to closed position, a leverrigid with said member, a; lost-motion connection between the member and the valve, means controlled by the operator to control positively the position of said lever, and a spring arrangement iorV holding the valve in active engagement with' the member against the action of suction within ythe inlet conduit of the carburetor as long as the speed of the engineV does not exceed the maximum permissible speed.

7. In a carburetor having a passage, a throttle valve in said passage, a member on which said throttle valve is mounted, means in the walls oi said passage pivotally mounting said member, and passages connecting said mounting means Y and the rst passage, whereby fuel sucked into said last passages lubricates continuously said mounting means. 8. In a carburetor having a passage, a throttle valve in said passage, a member on which said throttle valve is turnably mounted, the middle of ysaid valve having passages therein communicating withthehearing surface of the valve on the member whereby fuel sucked into said last passage lubricates continuously said bearing surface. 9. A carburetor as claimed in claim 5, in which said member is rotatable and said valve is pivoted on said member.

`10. A carburetor for internal combusticlnv en'- gines comprising a mixing chamber, vmeans to supply fuel to saidmixing chamber, a spindle mounted to turn in the walls of said mixing chamber and eccentric with respect thereto, an offset throttle valve freely mounted on said spindle and traversed thereby, said throttle valve being. located 'on the downstream side of saidy supply means and accomplishing all the usual functions of the carburetor throttle valve,said valve being so arranged that the suction acting on the offset portion thereof tends to move the valve to closed position, a lever rigid with said spindle, a lost motion connection between the spindleand the valve, means controlled by the operator 'to control positively the position of said lever, and a spring-arrangement for holding the valvein active engagement with the spindle against the action of suction within the inlet conduit of the carburetor as long as the speed of the enginedoes. not exceed the maximum permissible speed.

11. A carburetor for internal combustion engines comprising a mixing chamber, means to supply fuel to said mixing chamber, a rotatable member, an offset throttle valve pivoted on said member located on the downstream side of said supply means and accomplishing all the usual functions of the ordinary carburetorV throttle valve, said valve being so arranged that the suction acting on the offset portion thereof tends to move -the valve to closed position, a lever rigid .with said member, a lost-motion connection between the member and the valve, meanslcontrolled by the operator to control positively the position of said lever, and a spring arrangement for holding the valve in active engagement with v.

the member against the action of suction within the inlet conduit of the carburetor as long as the speed of the engine does not exceed the maximum permissible speed, the middle of said valve having passages therein communicating with the bearing surface of the valve on the memberI whereby fuel sucked intosaid last passage lubricates continuously said bearing surface.

MARCEL LOUIS MENNESSON. 

